Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Victor Dandridge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Victor, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I didn’t like to read as a child. Books, at least traditionally classic stories like Tom Sawyer or Hatchet, just didn’t appeal to me. I was a child of pop culture. Growing up in the 80’s, my love of music and movies, cartoons and video games, ruled! But all that changed when announced on the news that Superman was going to die. The Death of Superman brought me into the comics and my adoration with the medium was immediate!

I hadn’t QUITE been bitten by the creativity bug, just yet…that came about when I learned, through my new fandom, that three of my uncles could draw and were HUGE comic book fans themselves. This new, shared interest made them my first art teachers — we would create “new” characters (mine were truly just derivative versions of the heroes I was just discovering), and pit them against one another in adventurous stories.

Of the three, it was the youngest, my uncle Mark who was the truly keen in telling me that I could do this as a profession. While he and his brothers were talented, the practical need to BE in New York at the time (we’re from Columbus, OH), prohibited them from ever chasing that dream. He was the first to put that notion into my head as I began to build my novice skills.

Unfortunately, within the next year, my uncle Mark was a victim of violent crime. It was in his honor that I made a vow by candlelight (not unlike Batman, even), that I would become something in the comic book industry. And in the aftermath of that promise, I sought this professional career, earning the nickname, “The Hardest Working Man in Comics.”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Victor Dandridge, self-publishing comic creator — lovingly called, “The Hardest Working Man in Comics!” After a lifetime of building my fandom in comics, I decided to put my creativity to the test, launching Vantage:Inhouse Productions, publishing imprint. For the past twelve years, I’ve written and produced award-winning projects in comics and prose, including hit titles like The Samaritan, The Trouble w/Love, 8 Mins, and Wonder Care Presents: The Kinder Guardians.

My devotion to the craft of storytelling has earned me the title of Phenomenological Narratologist (one who studies the philosophy of stories) in academic circles. I use it to show others the everyday presence of stories, helping others realize their creative potential through narratives. In tandem with my publishing imprint, I launched U Cre-8 Comics, a programming and supply company designed to bring comics into classrooms. I’ve expanded my reach, nationally, working with premiere comic conventions, acclaimed library systems, higher-ed/collegiate institutions, and specialized grade schools to impact a generation of students.

What truly sets me apart from others is the tenacity of my ambition. While full recognizing the inherent limitations of expectations and scope, I don’t let my limited size or inexperience keep me from pursuing any opportunity I want. This has garnered me respect and acclaim from my readers and peers — both in the small press and mainstream markets.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I adore the NEED to change. It illustrates a tenacity for ingenuity and diligence; personally, I would rather change directions, rather than give up. Before I was known as “The Hardest Working Man in Comics,” I was called “The 8Bit Guy,” a reputation built in my ongoing shift from comic illustrator to writer. In the months leading up to my bold leap into being a full-time creative, I started a wave of pixel art designs (retro art inspired by early video games) , featuring popular characters from comics, cartoons, and movies. I created HUNDREDS of designs, specifically to have something visual to showcase at conventions, amongst my friends who were astounding visual artists, and my direct “competition.” My offerings were wide and varied — with posters, mini-prints, and button options, I almost immediately, found an audience.

Even as I launched my publishing imprint, Vantage:Inhouse, where in the first two years (2010-2012), I published some two of my most recognized titles (The Samaritan, and The Trouble w/Love), the 8Bits flourished. In fact they dominated my exhibition space, particularly once I developed The 8Bit Challenge game (a character recognition contest), that I stopped carrying my self-published comics altogether. But I never stopped CREATING more books and titles. Quietly, despite the fact that my prestige was growing based on the pixel art fanfare, I kept up my publishing output — branding it all under my imprint.

This adaptation was ultimately rewarded when a partnership with a premiere convention tour afforded me the chance to do a majority of cons with ZERO overhead cost. Where I was relying on the success of being The 8Bit Guy to keep me afloat, this new opportunity gave more wiggle room for (re)invention. So I retired the 8Bits, coming out in force with the books previously released, along with the barrage of other works that few people knew I had under my belt. The result looked like a calculated rebrand, which took hold over the next year, giving birth to my new moniker, “The Hardest Working Man in Comics.”

Being willing to shift and adjust, being open to new opportunities and challenges is one of my personal hallmarks for resilience and longevity.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My personal mission as a creative is to inspire others to not only find their creative voice, but to USE IT. Where my uncles grew up having an amazing pool of talent, they weren’t encouraged to explore using it in their everyday life. Having a creative outlet should be considered part of a balanced lifestyle and in so many ways, people are waiting for permission or allowance to embrace that for themselves. I work to be an example of what you can accomplish if you dare to let your passion become your profession.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vantageinhouse.com; www.ucre8comics.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/vantageinhouse; instagram.com/ucre8comics; instagram.com/allhailthegeeking
• Twitter: twitter.com/vantageinhouse; twitter.com/ucre8comics
• Youtube: youtube.com/c/vantageinhousetv